162 Nabbed In 23-Day Islandwide Anti-Vice Operation

The Police have arrested 157 women and five men, aged between 19 and 48, for their suspected involvement in vice-related activities.

In a 23-day operation that ended on 7 August 2018, officers from the Criminal Investigation Department and six Police Land Divisions conducted coordinated raids targeting online vice syndicates at multiple locations islandwide, including condominiums, hotels and residential units at Geylang, Jalan Sultan, Cavenagh Road as well as Balestier Road, resulting in the arrests. During the operation, items including laptops and mobile phones were seized as case exhibits. Investigations are ongoing.

The Police will continue to work with members of the public on the information submitted regarding vice activities and take tough enforcement action against those involved in such activities.

HDB flats are meant for residential purposes, and the use of flats for vice activities is strictly prohibited. HDB takes a serious view on the misuse of HDB flats and will not hesitate to take appropriate actions against flat owners who are found to be involved in the misuse. This includes imposing a financial penalty, or compulsory acquisition of the flat.

Flat owners play an important role in preventing vice in heartlands, and are reminded to conduct regular checks on their tenants to prevent vice activities from proliferating in residential estates. Tenants who are found to be involved in the misuse of the flat will not be allowed to rent an HDB flat for five years.

Flat owners who knowingly rent their premises to any person for vice-related activities will be prosecuted and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $3,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three years or to both and, in the case of a second or subsequent conviction, to a fine not exceeding $10,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years or to both.

Any person who knowingly solicits, receives or agrees to receive any gratification as an inducement or reward for providing any service, and who by providing that service does or will aid the prostitution of another person (being a woman or girl), shall be guilty of an offence and shall on conviction be punished with imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years and shall also be liable to a fine not exceeding $10,000. Any male person who is convicted of a second or subsequent offence shall, in addition to any term of imprisonment imposed in respect of such offence, be liable to caning.

The Police have arrested 157 women and five men, aged between 19 and 48, for their suspected involvement in vice-related activities.

In a 23-day operation that ended on 7 August 2018, officers from the Criminal Investigation Department and six Police Land Divisions conducted coordinated raids targeting online vice syndicates at multiple locations islandwide, including condominiums, hotels and residential units at Geylang, Jalan Sultan, Cavenagh Road as well as Balestier Road, resulting in the arrests. During the operation, items including laptops and mobile phones were seized as case exhibits. Investigations are ongoing.

The Police will continue to work with members of the public on the information submitted regarding vice activities and take tough enforcement action against those involved in such activities.

HDB flats are meant for residential purposes, and the use of flats for vice activities is strictly prohibited. HDB takes a serious view on the misuse of HDB flats and will not hesitate to take appropriate actions against flat owners who are found to be involved in the misuse. This includes imposing a financial penalty, or compulsory acquisition of the flat.

Flat owners play an important role in preventing vice in heartlands, and are reminded to conduct regular checks on their tenants to prevent vice activities from proliferating in residential estates. Tenants who are found to be involved in the misuse of the flat will not be allowed to rent an HDB flat for five years.

Flat owners who knowingly rent their premises to any person for vice-related activities will be prosecuted and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $3,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three years or to both and, in the case of a second or subsequent conviction, to a fine not exceeding $10,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years or to both.

Any person who knowingly solicits, receives or agrees to receive any gratification as an inducement or reward for providing any service, and who by providing that service does or will aid the prostitution of another person (being a woman or girl), shall be guilty of an offence and shall on conviction be punished with imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years and shall also be liable to a fine not exceeding $10,000. Any male person who is convicted of a second or subsequent offence shall, in addition to any term of imprisonment imposed in respect of such offence, be liable to caning.